• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 2016

For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility is an important parameter because the movement of sperm indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCz) is important enzyme in spermatogenesis, but the effect has not been confirmed in pigs yet. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyze their association with sperm motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 124 Duroc pigs with records of sperm motility and kinematic characteristics [total motile spermatozoa (MOT), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), the ratio between VSL and VCL (LIN), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH)] were subjected. A SNP in non-coding region of PLCz g.158 A > C was associated with MOT (p < 0.05), VCL (p < 0.01), LIN (p < 0.01) and ALH (p < 0.05) in Duroc population. Therefore, we suggest that the intron region of the porcine PLCz gene may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effect was not defined yet. Whether the association is due to the candidate gene or not require further verification. Thus, it will be of interest to continue association studies in the regions surrounding those genes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.185-194
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• 2018

The aim of this study was performed to evaluate the effects of ice-binding protein from the arctic yeast Leucosporidium (LeIBP) supplementation on cryopreservation of boar sperm. The collected semen was diluted ($1.5{\times}10^8/ml$) in lactose egg yolk (LEY) and cooled at $5^{\circ}C$ for 3 h. The cooled semen was then diluted ($1{\times}10^8/ml$) in LeIBP containing LEY with 9% glycerol and maintained at $5^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. The semen was divided into six experimental groups (control, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml of LeIBP). The straws were kept on above the liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$) vapors for 20 minutes and then plunged into $LN_2$. After thawing, computer-assisted sperm analysis was used for sperm motility and flow cytometry was performed to assess the viability, acrosome integrity (FITC-PSA/PI), ROS (DCF/PI), lipid peroxidation (BODIPY C11/PI) and apoptosis (Annexin V/PI), respectively. No significant responses were observed for sperm motility. However, sperm viability was significantly increased on 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml of LeIBP groups compared to control (P < 0.05). In addition, acrosome integrity was significantly increases LeIBP groups (P < 0.05) and both ROS and lipid peroxidation level were lower in all LeIBP groups than those of control (P < 0.05). On the other hand, a significant higher apoptosis rate was observed in 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml of LeIBP groups compared to control (P < 0.05). It can be assumed that a supplementation of LeIBP in boar sperm freezing extender is an effective method to increase the sperm qualities after cryopreservation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 2009

A series of experiments were conducted to determine the suitable freezing and thawing temperatures for the freezing of boar semen in 5 ml maxi-straws. The ultrastructure, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and artificial insemination (AI) of frozen-thawed semen were also be evaluated. The 5 cm freezing height gave the best results not only in post-thaw motility rate (54.00%), but also in normal acrosome morphology rate (NAR) (80.23%). There was no significant difference in the post-thaw motility between different thawing temperatures and corresponding thawing times (p>0.05); the group of $52^{\circ}C$ and 25 s gave the highest motility rate (45.00%). As a whole, not only from the motility but also the NAR, thawing at $42^{\circ}C$ was better than the other two treatments. In the freezing packages, 5 ml maxi-straw gave a little lower mobility (40%), viability rate (49.58%), plasma membrane integrity rate (53.91%) and NAR (52.65%) than the 0.25 ml straw, but there was no significant difference between the two straw volumes (p>0.05). The IVF capacity of frozen-thawed semen in this experiment was similar to fresh semen. From ultrastructure observation, the main damage to boar spermatozoa after freezing was seen in the acrosome, such as swelling and formation of vesicles. After AI in recipient Shanghai White sows, frozen-thawed semen from 5 ml maxi-straws and pellets produced 72.2% and 80% conception rate and 7.8 and 8 litter sizes, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the 5 ml maxi-straw and the pellet (p>0.05).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 1999

본 연구는 돼지 정액의 동결과정동안 flow cytometric 분석에 의한 정액내 생존정자의 비율을 조사하여 주관적으로 평가되는 활력 및 정상첨체율(normal apical ridge ; NAR)과 비교하여 정자의 손상과 생존성에 대한 적절한 평가법을 찾기 위하여 실시하였다. 동결과정 중 정액채취, 냉각, 예비동결 및 동결융해 후에 flow cytometric 분석에 의한 정자 생존율은 각각 93.0$\pm$3.6, 85.1$\pm$3.9, 28.9$\pm$6.8 및 26.1$\pm$5.9%이었다. 동결처리동안에 생존율은 예비동결 및 동결융해 후 가장 많은 정자사멸로 동결상태 이전의 생존율보다 유의적으로 낮게 나타났다. (p<0.05). 평가기법으로 정액 채취시 활력, NAR율 및 생존율을 조사한 결과 각각 91.0$\pm$4.2, 96.8$\pm$2.5 및 92.2$\pm$3.2%로 NAR율이 생존성 및 활력보다 높게 평가되었으며, 생존율이 활력보다 다소 높게 평가되었다. 그러나 동결융해 후에는 각각 44.0$\pm$8.9, 49.0$\pm$7.9 및 35.6$\pm$9.7%로 활력이 생존율보다 다소 높게 평가되었다. 전체적으로 NAR율은 활력은 생존율보다 높게 평가되었으며, SYBR-14 / PI(propidium iodide) 이중형광염색법에 의한 flow cytometric 평가법으로 생존율은 동결되지 않은 정액에서의 활력 및 NAR 평가보다 다소 민감하게 나타났다. 이러한 결과로 미루어보아 SYBR-14 / PI 형광염색에 의한 flow cytometry의 생존성 평가는 동결되지 않은 정액의 평가방법으로는 적절하지만 동결된 정액의 생존성 평가는 부적절한 것으로 사료되었다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 1986

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of bovine serum ablumin (BSA), sugars, glycerol equilibration time, straw size and thawing method on the survival index and the morphology of frozen boar spermatozoa. The results obtained were summarized as follow: 1. When the semen frozen in BF5 dilutor as pellet form was thawed in BTS at 37$^{\circ}$and 50$^{\circ}C$, BF5 dilutor with fructose showed higher sperm survival index than that with dextrose, however, when the semen was thawed on dry test tube at 37$^{\circ}C$, BF5 dilutor with sucrose showed higher sperm survival index than with other sugars. 2 When the semen forzen in BF5 dilutor with straw and thawed at 37$^{\circ}C$, BF5 dilutor with dextrose showed higher sperm survival index than those with other sugars, and there was no difference in sperm survival index between 0.5 and 1.0 ml straws. 3. The sperm survival index of frozen sperm was significantly (P<0.05) improved due to addition of BSA (0.05%) to BF5 dilutor. 4. When the extended semen with BF5 dilutor contatining 0.01 to 0.05% of BSA was frozen in the straw, the semen without glycerol equilibration showed significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm survival index than those with 2, 4 and 6 hrs glycerol equilibration time. 5. The sperm frozen in BF5 dilutor with dextrose or fructose, sucrose and raffinose showed 77 to 88% in normal acrosome rate and no difference among sugars. 6. The frozen semen showed lower normal acrosome rate than the first and second diluted semen, whereas the frozen semen showed higher swollen, damaged and missing acrosome rate than the first and second diluted semen. 7. Damaged and missing acrosome rate of sperm head due to freezing was somewhat inhibited by addition of BSA (0.01 to 0.05) to the BF5 dilutor.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 1993

These experiments were undertaken to establish the optimal culture systems for in vitro maturation, fertilization and subsequently embryonic development of porcine immature follicular oocytes isolated from the ovary of slaughtered pigs. Porcine ovaries were brought to the laboratory from local slaughter house within 1 hour after slaughtering and cumulus oocytes complexes were recovered from antral follicles (3~5mm) with 23 gauge needle. To maturate follicular oocytes, cumulus oocytes complexes were washed three times with TCM-199 containing 25mM HEPES and incubated (39$^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 in air) for 42hrs. Ejaculated and liquid storaged boar spermatozoa capacitated with different sperm capacitation methods and media were prepared forfertilizaing of matured follicular oocytes in vitro. Fertilization was performed by adding 5~10${mu}ell$ of capacitated spermatozoa containing 1~5$\times$105 sperm/ml to droplets. Eighteen to twenty-eight hours after sperm insemination, fertilized eggs were washed three times with culture media and transferred to the culture media. The fertilization rates of in vitro matured follicular oocytes cultured in B. O., TCM-HEPES, m-KRB, and TALP-II media were 61.3%, 83.0%, 88.9% and 89.2%, respectively. In addition, the polyspermy rates were 60.7%, 66.5%, 53.8%, and 43.9%, respectively. These data indicated that the highest of fertilization and the lowest of polyspermy rate was shown in TALP-II medium. Spermatozoa capacitated by caffeine, heparin, and percoll density gradient treatment in the 4 different media, the fertilization rates were 33.0~57.2%, 39.9~90.2%, and 52.6~92.8%, respectively, showing the lowest rate in caffeine treatment. The development rate of follicular oocytes, fertilized with the spermatozoa capacitated by caffeine, heparin, and percoll gradient in the TALP-II medium, upto 2 to 4-cell stages were 32.6%, 74.5% and 70.9%, respectively. Finally, fertilization rates of follicular oocytes cultured with follicular fluid containing medium from 10 to 100% were 61.2~94.1% and the rates (90~94%) with 10~20% follicular fluids were significantly higher than those (85.3%) of cultured in the media without follicular fluid. In addition, the rates of pronucleus formation were also higher in follicular fluid treated group (73.1~83.0%) than those (64.7%) of oocytes cultured without follicular fluid. The highest fertilization and pronucleus formation rates was found in oocytes cultured with 10% follicular fluid. These results suggest that the addition of heparin or percoll density gradient method is better capacitation method. Furthermore, the addition of porcine follicular fluid to the fertilization medium may improve the fertilization rates and formation of pronucleus.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

The aims of the present study were to confirm that regulation of the PA and environment via TGF-β regulation of sperm by Percoll-separated in porcine uterine epithelial cells. And, it was performed to identify the cytokines (TGF-β1, 2 and 3, TGF-β receptor1 and 2; interleukin, IL-6, IL-8) and PA-related genes (urokinase-PA, uPA; tissue-PA, tPA; PA inhibitor, PAI; uPA-receptor, uPAR) by spermatozoa. The experiment used porcine uterus epithelial cells (pUECs) and uterine tissue epithelial cells, Boar sperm were separated by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%), and tissues were co-incubated with spermatozoa, followed by real-time PCR. PA activity was measured of sperm by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%) for 24 hours. To measure viability and acrosome damage of sperm double stained propidium iodide (PI) and SYBR-14 or FITC-PNA were used. In results, binding ratio of Percoll-separated sperm was found no differences, but sperms isolated from 90% Percoll layer reduced PA activity (p < 0.05). when co-cultured sperm selected Percoll in porcine uterus tissues epithelial cells, 90% layer sperm increased TGF-β R1, contrastively tPA and PAI-1 in comparison with control (p < 0.05). 45% sperm was decreased the expression of uPA (p < 0.05). TGF-β decreased PA activity in the supernatant collected from pUECs (p < 0.05). Especially, The group including uPA, PAI-1 were induce sperm intact, while it was reduced in sperm damage when compared to control (p < 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference group of tPA and tPA+I in the dead sperm and acrosome damage compared to control. The expression of tPA and PAI showed a common response. Percoll-separated spermatozoa in 90% layer reduced tPA and IL-related gene mRNA expression. Thus, Percoll-sparated sperm in 90% layer show that it can suppress inflammation through increased expression of TGF-β and downregulation of PA and IL in epithelial cells compared to 45% layer Percoll.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to find out the effect of cholesterol and serum albumin on sperm ability and lipid peroxidation levels period to the liquid storage of miniature pig sperm. Ejaculated semen from miniature pigs was collected by gloved-hand method into a pre-warmed ($37^{\circ}C$) thermos bottle, and extended with Modena solution {with and without BSA, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (-cholesterol) and cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (+cholesterol)}. Each semen was assessed for viability (SYBR-14/PI staining) and acrosome intactness, intensity and capacitation status by chlorotetracycline (CTC) staining at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days of storage. At for the effects of cholesterol and serum albumin on lipid peroxidation, semen were incubated with $H_2O_2$ ($10\;{\mu}M$), and lipid peroxidation level were measured by flow cytometry using the lipid peroxidation reporter probe $C_{11}-BODIPY^{581/591}$. The result, lipid peroxidation level in sperm added with cholesterol were lower in $10\;{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ compared to the added sperm with serum albumin. Also, added cholesterol to sperm had significant (p<0.05) higher viability when storage for 7 and 10 days and lower when 10 days of storage percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm (AR pattern) in acrosome state as say result compared to other treated groups. In conclusion, role of cholesterol during lipid storage in miniature pig spermatozoa was protected boar spermatozoa from lipid peroxidation prior to lipid storage. Addition serum albumin during lipid storage in sperm may be induce sperm membrane damage by lipid peroxidation. Therefore, addition of cholesterol to miniature pig sperm will be lead to extension of liquid storage periods.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2008

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine protease that cleave plasminogen to form the active protease plasmin. PA/plasmin system playa role in mammalian fertilization and motility and acrosome reaction of sperm. The present study was undertaken to identify PAs in porcine gametes and investigate a possible role of plasminogen in in vitro fertilization in the pig. When boar spermatozoa were preincubated in a fertilization medium (mTBM) for 0, 2, 4 or 6 h, the activity of tPA-PAI ($110{\sim}117\;kDa$), tPA ($62{\sim}70\;kDa$), and uPA ($34{\sim}38\;kDa$) was observed in the sperm incubation medium and sperm sample. PA activities in the sperm incubation medium significantly (p<0.05) increased according to increasing incubation times, while PA activities in sperm significantly (p<0.05) decreased at the same times. In addition, the rate of acrosome reaction in spermatozoa increased by increasing culture times. When oocytes were separated from porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes at 0, 22 or 44 h of maturation culture, no PA activities were observed in cumulus free-oocyte just after aspiration from follicles. However, the activity of tPA-PAI ($108{\sim}113\;kDa$) and tPA ($75{\sim}83\;kDa$) was observed at 22 h of in vitro culture and significantly (p<0.05) increased as the duration of the culture increased. On the other hand, when porcine oocytes were activated by sperm penetration or calcium ionophore, plasminogen significantly (p<0.05) increased ZP dissolution time (sec) in activated oocytes by sperm penetration. These results suggest that supplementation of plasminogen to fertilization medium may playa positive role in the improvement of in vitro fertilization ability in the pig.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2015

Preservation of liquid semen is an important factor for breeding management in swine industry. Oxidative stress of spermatozoa during liquid preservation has a detrimental effect on sperm quality and decreases fertility. Objective of this study was to determine the effect of antioxidant, Quercetin, on capability of porcine liquid semen preservation. Freshly collected porcine semen from boars (n=3), having proven fertility was counted, diluted to $3{\times}10^7/mL$ and divided into 5 different semen extenders. Aliquots of diluted semen with different extenders were subjected to measure the pH, motility, viability and sperm DNA structure status on elapse time after preservation for 10 days. For the first 3 days, semen preserved in all 5 different extenders maintained their initial pH and either gradually decreased or increased thereafter, indicating lipid peroxidation has started. Sperm motility (r=0.52, p=0.01) and viability (r=0.55, p=0.03) had positive correlation with semen pH. Sperm motility was maintained well (p<0.05) in especially 2 extenders containing Tris and antioxidant compared to other extenders, suggesting both Tris and antioxidant worked as pH regulator and had beneficial effects on sperm characteristic during preservation. Sperm DNA structure status accessed by sperm chromatin structure assay on elapsed time after preservation, tended to be higher in semen preserved without antioxidant. Taken together, addition of antioxidant to extender prevents the sperm from oxidative stress during storage in mechanism by which antioxidant slows the lipid peroxidation, and thus reduced the reactive oxygen species in preserved porcine semen resulted in maintaining semen pH, sperm motility and viability for 7~10 days.